THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 

 THE JESUP NORTH PACH^^IC EXPEDITION. 



^lONG the great problems of anthropology, the one 

 which stands out as of particular interest and im- 

 portance to the American people is the problem of 

 the earliest history of the native races of our con- 

 tinent and their relation to the races of the Old 

 World. Questions relating to this problem have been the subject 

 of much speculation, particularly in our own country. While 

 the science of anthropology was still in its infancy, the flight of 

 imagination carried away investigators and led them to identify 

 the American race with one or another ancient people of the Old 

 World. Later a reaction set in, which culminated in the view of 

 Dr. D. G. Brinton, who considered the American race and Ameri- 

 can culture as entirely independent of those of the Old World. 

 This view, however, seems to be too extreme to be tenable. The 

 question of the relation between the people of the Old World 

 and those of the New ma}^ be stated in the following manner: 



There is little doubt that the American race has inhabited our 

 continent for a long time. Although no finds have been made 

 that establish its geological antiquity beyond cavil, we have good 

 reason to believe that man inhabited this continent at a very 

 early time. The principal foundation for this belief is the exist- 

 ence of well-marked varieties of the American race, the estab- 

 lishment of which must have occupied a long period. The general 

 characteristics of the race are fairly imiform. The smooth dark 

 hair, broad heavy face, large nose and rather full mouth 

 are common to all the natives of America. But nevertheless a 

 number of distinct types have developed, differing in color of 

 skin, in form of head and of face and in proportions of the body. 

 The differences in these types show that much time was necessary 

 for their development. 



The long occupancy of our continent, which thus seems 

 probable, implies that American culture passed through a long 

 period of development. It is likely that the distinct types of the 

 race developed in isolated spots, and therefore culture must also- 

 have followed distinct lines of growth. 



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